Posts from ‘Arts Events’
Cowboy Branding; Less is More; Barn Raising
Dennis Ziemienski – “Cowgirl Brand”
Never just one Altamira artist opening a show at that gallery; two weeks ago a trio of artists kicked off the season. June 17-29th, two new shows with works by contemporary Western artists Dennis Ziemienski and Howard Post will be on exhibition.
Ziemienski’s “New Images of the Old West” and Post’s “Western Perspectives” share an opening reception at Altamira Fine Art on Thursday, June 20th, 5-8:00 pm. Works by these artists are bold; Ziemienski’s crisp, poster-bright paintings recall the best magazine advertising of bygone eras (were “Mad Men” set in the West, and the Sterling-Cooper execs living on ranches, their campaigns might look a lot like Ziemienski’s art), and Post’s Western landscapes are, as has been noted, characterized by a richly colored, contemporary impressionist style.
The West—our region, at any rate—was first discovered in part because of posters commissioned by railroad lines. These travel posters promoted new regions opening up to tourism and Ziemenski, a native San Franciscan, puts together idealistic images of cowboy life with a feel for sharp, witty modernism.
Last century’s big rush west attracts Ziemenski.
Dennis Ziemienski – “Yosemite Drive Thru”
“I like that period of time because it hasn’t been well recorded,” Ziemienski said. “You don’t see a lot of paintings of cowboys sitting in Model T Fords. But they did – and right alongside their horses. I was born in 1947. Growing up in California and taking car trips with my family allowed me to see a lot of this imagery. But by the 60’s and 70’s, I noticed that much of it was starting to fade away,” he said. “All of the things I witnessed then started to make me think that some day I would like to record those things. So now I am.”
I recently visited Laramie, a city established by the railroads. Laramie is chock full of great vintage signage–some in good shape, some not as much. But they’re there. Such signs and billboards make a native Californian’s heart leap into her throat.
Howard Post – “Western Meadows”
Post is one of my favorite Western contemporary landscape painters. “Contemporary” in the sense that he’s not exactly a realist, and he’s not exactly an “unexpected” painter. His light and compositions are poetic, translucent and depict the West’s golden light just as we imagine it when we can’t be there. Just as we imagine it when we ARE there, and want to describe it to someone who has never gazed upon it.
Post is, says the gallery, known for his unique aerial perspective that, to my mind, emphasizes Western space. Born in Tucson, that region’s special southwestern light permeates his work, no matter the subject matter.
Wherever you’re from, you bring the light with you.
Howard Post – “Riverbed”
Post was a cowboy, and when he began painting a few decades back he chose the subject he knew best: Arizona’s ranch traditions and the Arizona landscape. His hayfields are sun-drenched loaves of hot grass, basking in the late afternoon sun, thick purple and green trees in partial shadow. A suggestion of an outline surrounds many of Post’s objects, giving them volume. Post’s are landscapes you want to wake up to, go to sleep thinking about; they are ideal.
“My paintings,” says Post, “Are my visual response to the West and how I want it to be.”
Got that. www.altamiraart.com
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“Fewer answers nowadays, but more questions.” | “Parents wrong, discover my own life.” | “Created art, I feel better now.” | “Istanbul highways to National Park trails.”
You thought writing haiku was challenging?
Teton County Library and Culture Front, in collaboration with the Jackson Hole Writers’ Conference, are pleased to present The Six-Word Memoir Project exhibit, debuting June 27th at the Center for the Arts. Sixty Jackson area creative types submitted six-word “snapshots” of their lives; each write up is exactly six words.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, DAD!
Have I got some Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters (RMPAP) dates for YOU! You’ve heard that over 40 artists will converge next month in Grand Teton National Park for two weeks of plein air painting, demonstrations and events; all culminating in July 18th’s Grand Opening Gala and Sale at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitors Center. Now, a full artist demonstration schedule is available—-go out there and watch these amazing artists at work! These are scheduled, set location, events:
SATURDAY, July 13: ARTISTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, Oxbow Bend, 2-5 PM. Artists: Kathryn Turner, Stephen C. Datz, Jeanne Mackenzie.
TUESDAY, July 16: MORNING – 9 AM: Erin O’Connor (oils) – Jenny Lake Boat Dock area & Michael McClure (oils) – Taggart Lake Trailhead. AFTERNOON – 4 PM: Bill Davidson (oils)- Jackson Lake Lodge & Bill Sawczuk (oils)- Craig Thomas Visitor Center.
WEDNESDAY, July 17: MORNING – 9 AM: Stacey Peterson (oils) – Craig Thomas Visitor Center & Patti Andre (pastel) – Jenny Lake Boat Dock area. AFTERNOON – 4 PM: Jake Gaedtke (oils) – Jackson Hole Visitor Information Center (north end of town, overlooking the Elk Refuge) & Cople / Swinney / Arndt (oils) – Jackson Lake Lodge.
FRIDAY, July 19: MORNING – 9 AM: Jennifer Hoffman (pastel) – Jackson Hole Visitor Information Center & David Schwindt (oils) – Jackson Lake Lodge. MORNING – 9 AM: John Hughes (oils) – Craig Thomas Visitor Center. AFTERNOON – 4 PM: Keith Bond (oils) – Taggart Lake Trailhead & Ruth Rawhouser (oils) – Jenny Lake Boat Dock area.
(QUICK DRAW: July 20th, 9:00 am at Menor’s Ferry, Grand Teton National Park! All are welcome! Many artists, many paintings, all for sale after the paint-out!)
All this in addition to the Gala Opening Show & Sale, taking place at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitors Center on July 18th, beginning at 7:00 pm. This show and sale benefits Grand Teton National Park through the Grand Teton Association. All are welcome! Dozens and dozens of newly painted works by RMPAP artists will be on exhibition, and for sale. It’s one heck of a party! Arrive early to get a good look! Previews begin July 15th, and the show concludes July 21st. www.pleinairforthepark.org.
Kuhn, Bob (1920-2007) – Lookout Rock Cougar
More phenomenal, important works are coming in to the Jackson Hole Art Auction, taking place on Saturday, September 14th, 2013 at Jackson Hole’s Center for the Arts. The auction, produced jointly by Trailside Galleries of Jackson, WY and Scottsdale, AZ, and the Gerald Peters Gallery of Santa Fe, NM, will be presenting the seventh annual Jackson Hole Art Auction this year. The auction is a “grand finale” to Jackson’s annual Fall Arts Festival.
Highlights for the 2013 auction include significant works by Roy Andersen, William de la Montagne Cary, John Clymer, Maynard Dixon, Henry Farny, E. Martin Hennings, Thomas Hill, W.H.D. Koerner, Bob Kuhn, Wilhelm Kuhnert, Frank McCarthy, Kenneth Riley, Carl Rungius, Richard Schmid, Charles Schreyvogel, Olaf Wieghorst, Henriette Wyeth, Eustace Paul Ziegler, and more. The images in this post are just a few of recently consigned works up for sale.
Hill, Thomas (1829-1908), Yosemite
And, rumor has it that there will be some exciting new dynamics in motion at this year’s event, so be sure to check in with auction headquarters! In Jackson, auction headquarters are upstairs at Trailside Galleries, 130 East Broadway, just a block off Town Square. Enter the gallery (look around, it’s beautiful!) then head up the stairs and to the rear of the second floor to view many works that will be up for sale. You can also speak with auction representatives about auction details.
The Jackson Hole Art Auction is currently accepting quality consignments for 2013. Whether you have an extensive collection or a few rarities, call their office at 866-549-9278, or visit their website at www.jacksonholeartauction.com.
“Cruise” by Travis Walker
“Stability is something we all seek. That’s why we’ve built things up. You can find amazing classes to take, but carving out your own space is another story. We don’t have a central place for that, and that’s the demand.” ~ Travis Walker
Now for that cake. This interview reflects Travis Walker’s views developed from years of working independently and otherwise in Jackson’s art scene.
“The way we’ve built our arts scene, it hasn’t been community based,” says Jackson Hole artist and newest NEA grant reviewer Travis Walker. “We have a great commodity. Galleries are lined with paintings and artwork. But when we built the Center, we forgot about the cake. The cake is artists. Without them, nothing works. If you don’t have people in classes, if you can’t afford to live here, you’re not invested, and you have to move. We’re finite, and we deal with the same people.”
(Insertion: The Center for the Arts and the Art Association are two different entities. As you’ll see, Walker realizes that the expense of real estate is a heavy mantle for arts groups here. Classes represent grass roots efforts, touch countless lives, create indelible memories, and are highly formative for Jackson’s young people, as well as adults. The point is there are many currents at work; every class listing represents vast numbers of people of all ages either making, observing or leading a class.)
People of means who can afford studio space or industrious, hard-working people like John Frechette, whose business is expanding, are doing well. But real estate is a big problem, says Walker. We need to make space affordable—it’s difficult, yet very desireable to be here. The only way to attract people is to create affordable space, and now we’re back in a situation where decent space is hard to find.
Walker believes the way to start anything is to create work space.
“The Factory was a place for artists to work, the rent was cheap, and people —kids, too—could come in and see how art was made. We did have to shut down, but for reasons unrelated to this core need. We all had a common goal,” he says. “At this stage in my career I don’t need classes. But now what? Artists who know their craft like classes, but not every month. The demand for affordable studio space, though—that’s something artists pay for every month. It’s steady income for the building occupied.”
Walker is giving away his plan. Is he ok with that? Yes.
“You have to know how to approach all sorts of people, and I’m not sure that is something you can learn in school. Things change. Our Latino citizens are, as of the 2010 census, almost 30% of our population. Those kids are in my classes. It’s organic; we have to change. I’ve changed. People have not known what the hell I was doing; we were all fluctuating violently in reaction to our crashing local economy. We’re still seeing the fallout.”
Maybe THAT will change. The desire is present. Arts work together.
“One spare chromosome | And my offspring next to me | A linear strand.”
I wrote that haiku as a response to Jenny’s piece, “Tooth Diary pg.6″ when we collaborated on a book, “Collection.” This particular work suggests new life beginning to supplant older matter.
What’s so much fun about Culture Front is that you NEVER know what’s going to happen. You know who’s on the agenda, and what any given month’s theme will be, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stick to that theme. You go, you get a drink at the Rose Bar (if you are 21 or older—and the earlier you get there, the better because those bartenders make such complicated drinks that it’s like their composing a full symphony!) and you point your face towards the front of the room where Meg Daly and her guests commence their 90-minute presentation.
Wednesday, May 29th, beginning at 5:30 pm, Culture Front welcomes Jackson artists Jenny Dowd (newly ensconced at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, thank you very much!), Andrew Munz (ensconced at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts,in a bunch of plays and a writer), and Aaron Wallis! I’m passing out. Wallis, former arts writer at the Jackson Hole Daily and un-censored critic of Jackson’s art scene and the world at large, as well as an artist, is going to be a part of that evening’s talk, “First Impressions: Looking Beyond Initial Impact.”
This is just too good! Wallace, as we all know, has seen (and instigated) his own brand of controversy and art dust-ups here in Jackson.
Only last week several of the Town Council and Teton County Commissioners got in such a big fight—a shout-down in public chambers that was so bad the session was tabled. The News & Guide named the major players, so ask them about that. The write-up made the rumble sound much less crazy than it really was, says one observer. Funding issues are tense! Thank goodness that meeting wasn’t taking place at, say, the Virginian bar!
“La Jolla Tree” – A. Wallis
I doubt any knock-downs will happen on May 29th. It’s great Wallis is on the panel. He’s a super smart dude, with prodigious art history knowledge.
“What information do we get from a first impression?” Meg Daly asks. “Often what attracts a viewer or reader to a work is the first impression – some kind of impact, positive or negative. However, closer reading or looking can reveal layers and meaning not immediately apparent. The payoff of a work of art may be far greater than its initial appearance (suggests).”
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Down the Spring/Summer arts road we go~~~
Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 10am – 4pm, the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s (NMWA) “Plein Air Fest” happens at NMWA’s stunning location just north of town. The event is sponsored by Plein Air Magazine, and over 30 artists will be participating, taking four hours to complete their works. Art will be sold via “Silent Bid.” Lots of good cooking with local chefs, family activities and music to be had! It’s all free, save the jambalaya tastings, which go for $10 for 10 tastes, $25 for as much as you can taste! www.wildlifeart.org
A note: “Plein Air Fest” is not to be confused with “Plein Air for the Park,” a two-week long plein air event taking place in and around Grand Teton National Park July 8-21st. Much more on that event soon!
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WAY out in the future–this is really a Fall event–the Great Apes Summit takes place here in Jackson Hole. Dates are September 21-24th, 2013. It’s possible to register now; the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is a major partner. “New tools. New ideas. New voices. NO BOUNDARIES.” That’s the hook! Click here to find out about registration, programs and cost. Heads up: Conservation and the Arts are going to merge more and more here in Jackson Hole as time goes by. We’re taking our original arts history to new levels!
